by Ju Ephraime
Shifting onto his knees, he moved up over her, lifting her legs to his shoulders as he went. He started with his mouth, lapping, licking, and sucking her.
Everywhere his mouth touched, he left a trail of fire. He made certain she was nice and moist before he thrust into her, one glorious, excruciating inch as a time until he was buried to the hilt.
“Do ye feel me now, mo muirnín?” he asked her as he took her mouth in a sensuous kiss, sharing the essence of her body, which was on his lips, with her.
Coira began to cry, great heaving sobs that made her unable to talk.
“Ah, mo muirnín, don’t cry. Shhh, mo muirnín, ye are breaking my heart.”
He never missed a stroke. He kept giving it to her while he kissed her tears away. The more he kissed her, the more the tears flowed.
Coira felt the sensation of him inside her body while he drank her tears, and it was such a turn-on she was already reaching her release, even while he was trying to comfort her. Whew, what a high. Her hormones were all over the place.
After she was able to breathe again, he rolled over with her still attached to him, and she ended on top in the dominant position. She knew he loved her to ride him that way, and, boy, did she ride him. Coira gave him a treat when she moved down his body and took him into her mouth. She loved him with her mouth until he had to take over the reins from her. They kept at it for the rest of the night and into the morning.
It was only after they had finally fallen asleep out of sheer exhaustion and woken up several hours later that they took the time to talk, and they spent the rest of the time in bed between loving to catch up with each other.
“Darling, are you going to tell me about the fighting?”
“Nay, there is nothing to tell. It was a bloody battle, but I knew we would be victorious in this one.”
“I did too,” she told him.
“How did ye know?” he asked.
“I was there. I saw you with your sword raised, and you turned and gave me a beauteous smile, and I knew everything would be all right.”
Alasdair sat up in the bed. “Ye saw the battlefield? Ye were there?”
“I sure did.”
“Coira, listen to me. The only way ye could have visited the battlefield is in a vision, and in order for ye to be able to do that, ye have to be fae.”
“Ye mean like a fairy?”
“Aye. Ye did say yer parents have ancestors from the Highlands. This could only mean one thing. Ye are one of us.”
“Wait a minute, you are a fae?”
“I am a lot of things, fae being only one of them.”
“A lot of things? Like what?”
“I will tell ye one day.”
“Okay, I’ll wait until you are ready. Don’t let me wait too long. I have very little patience.”
“I know, mo muirnín. I will reveal my secrets to ye a little piece at a time. Come, we will test yer ability with the sight.”
* * * *
Alasdair was intrigued. If Coira could project into the battlefield, she must be a powerful fae. He intended to put his theory to the test. He would let her use his crystal. He was so excited he was shaking.
“Come with me. We'll see if ye really have the sight.”
“I don’t have the sight, as you call it, darling. I was going out of my mind worrying about whether you were dead or alive, and I must have projected my thoughts into my dream. You know they say dreams are a projection of our subconscious thoughts.”
“In Scotland, especially in the Highlands, we believe in dreams. It has nothing to do with our thoughts. Do ye know how to meditate?”
“Not really. I should imagine it’s not that difficult.”
“’Tis very difficult. I use the Druids’ method.”
“The Druids, like in magicians? You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
“I am very serious. Let us go to my chambers. We will test yer sight there.”
“Your chambers? I’ve been to your chambers. There’s nothing there unless it was hidden away.”
“Aye. I have a hidden room within my chambers. Come.”
“This is amazing, Dair. I had no idea the castle had hidden rooms, and in your chambers? Is there one in my chambers?”
“There are many things ye do not know yet, but now that the war is behind us, I will spend my time teaching ye. About a secret room in yer chambers, nay, there is not one in yer room.”
“Of course, what did I expect? It’s only for the Laird.”
“Do not be upset, mo muirnín. We will try to use scrying to see how yer da is doing.”
Just hearing she would be able to see her dad caused her excitement to mount. By then, they had arrived at his chambers. They walked in and were greeted with the same room she was familiar with.
This time, he walked toward the far wall, and Coira was surprised to see him fit his fingers into the wall and even more surprised to see the wall move and open up to a hidden door.
The door opened with his finger again, and the smell of damp earth, muskiness, and sulfur assaulted her nose.
“How is it possible that I’ll be able to see my dad? I had a dream about him before I agreed to marry you. He seemed much better and gave me his blessing, which was why I agreed to marry you.”
“I made it possible for ye to have that dream.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying you are a manipulator of dreams too?”
“Nay, I cannot manipulate dreams. I can project myself into any place I want to be. I used that technique and visited yer da and projected the images to ye through my connection with ye in the spot beneath yer left breast. I was worried ye would not marry me if ye thought yer da was dying.”
“What spot beneath my left breast? I thought I felt a slight sting there. I thought you were too rough with me.”
“Aye. I gave ye a small nip and transferred a few drops of my blood into yers.”
“Why? Is this a form of marriage bonding?”
“Aye. I wanted ye to have a connection to me and I to ye.”
“That’s powerful stuff. Can everyone in the Highlands do this? Do your brothers?”
“Nay, only some of us are fae. My Mither was fae. I was gifted with some of her skills.”
“So are you fae?”
“I have already told ye nay. I am a lot of things, but fae, I am not.”
“Well, Mr. I am a lot of things, how come you weren’t able to send me back home?”
“Because I did not bring ye through time. I had no knowledge of it. I am trying to find out how it happened. When I find out, ye will be the first to know.”
“Is that why you were so angry and accused me of being a spy?”
“That and yer appearance here was too opportune. Here we are preparing for war, and ye appeared, literally out of nowhere. Tempting me to want to do things I had not thought about in a long time.”
“I’ve already told you what happened. Now that I know you can do ‘a lot of things,’ maybe you were projecting when you placed yourself in that office in Manhattan, looking for a woman.”
“Part of what ye said is true. I will tell ye the whole thing another time. Now let us concentrate on ye.”
Coira was excited and apprehensive at the same time. She had no idea what he was about to do. She only knew she would do anything to see her dad again.
“This is a Druid technique. I din nae use it often because I find it draining, and often times, I dinnae get the answer I seek. Let's see how ye do.”
“How will I know if I’m doing it right?”
“Ye will know. I will help ye. I know that technique. I learned it at my mither’s knee when I was just a child. This method uses a crystal ball or any other reflective object.”
He picked up a crystal ball from one of the chests in the room and placed it the center table. “Are ye ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“We have to meditate first. I will take the journey with ye. Place yer right hand on t
he ball, and I will place mine also. Now clear yer mind and concentrate. Meditation can bring peace to the heart, calm and inspiration to the restless mind, and healing to the body. The first time will take some doing. Ye will have to keep yer da in yer mind. Let yer need to see him be uppermost and, most of all, relax. ’Tis not painful. ’T'will seem like a dream. I will be seeing what ye are seeing and will end it if it gets too difficult for ye. Are ye ready?”
“Yes,” she whispered. This was all so foreign to her, but she was as ready as she’d ever be.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Coira was convinced that she would never be able to see anything in the crystal. Her skepticism was way up. Then, as she sat with her hands beneath Dair’s, she felt the crystal becoming hotter by the minute.
Dair’s hands were over hers, and she couldn’t tell whether the heat was coming from him, her, or the crystal. All her senses seemed to be alert as she watched the crystal flicker with shadowy objects, and then suddenly, it was clear, bright and shining, as the entire setting changed and she found herself in her father’s bedroom. She tried looking for her husband; he wasn’t there. As she was debating what to do, she saw that her dad was looking well, as well as she had seen him in her recent dream. She wasn’t sure he could see her.
“Hello, Dad,” she greeted him.
“Hello, sweetheart.” Holy shit, her dad appeared able to see her. “How are you? I was expecting you sooner. Where’s that husband of yours?”
“He’s not here. Are you feeling better, Dad? I was so worried about you.”
“I’m feeling much, much better. The young man you hired to help me is a gem. We get along good, but enough about me. How’s married life?”
“How did you know I got married?”
“You told me, sweetheart, when you were last here. I told your mom about it, and we both gave you our blessings.”
Coira thought he was getting deeper into the Alzheimer’s. He was talking about her mom again. She decided to humor him. Part of her training in dealing with the disease was not to contradict the person but just go ahead and agree with him or her.
“Dad, you talked with Mom?”
“Yes, I did, sweetheart. Aren’t you listening?”
“When did you talk with her?”
“I speak with her all the time. We talked about your wedding several weeks ago …no, actually …months ago. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten something so important. That’s not like you, Coira.”
“I didn’t forget. I thought I was dreaming when I spoke with you.”
Coira was surprised when her dad burst out laughing. She hadn’t heard her dad laugh since her mom had passed. What was happening? Was Dair making her see what she wanted to see? Making everything look better than it was?
“Why didn’t you bring your young man? He should be able to come through.”
“How do you know I ‘came through’?”
“What do you mean, sweetheart? Didn’t your husband bring you?”
“Dair’s not here, Dad. How do you know about him?”
“I saw you with him. Your mom showed me. He’s one of us and was destined for you. You are in our neck of the woods now. Look around you, and you’ll see us. I was awaiting your arrival before I went to be with your mom. When I join her, you’ll be able to reach her much more easily. We’ll never be far away; all you have to do is reach for us.”
“I didn’t know any of this.”
“We were going to tell you, but first, we had to find our ancestors. We returned year after year, but when your mom died, I couldn’t do it alone. She was my life. I’m looking forward to joining her, and then we'll both be able to watch over you.”
“Dad, all this is confusing me.”
“You are a special child, Coira, the result of a Druid Túath and a fae so you have both our genes. We arrived in the Scottish Highlands by way of Ireland. Your young man will know, for he, too, is of mixed genes, and though different, he’s powerful. I know he can project in here, so why doesn’t he?”
“I am here, sir.”
“No need to stand on ceremony. Alasdair, is it not? It’s not necessary.”
“’Tis an honor to finally meet ye, sir.”
“And me you. I know you brought my Coira to me before your wedding; I thank you for that. I’m now ready to go to my wife. She has waited patiently. I’m leaving my daughter in your hands. I know you’ll take care of her. We’ll visit from time to time.”
“Dad, Dad!” she called out to him.
“What is it, my love?”
“I wanted to tell you about the baby.”
“I already know.”
“How did you know?”
“I sensed there are three of you. I couldn’t see a third person, but the third heartbeat is there, so I knew it had to be a babe. Your mom and I will be present at his birth. Goodbye, my love.”
“Goodbye, Dad.” Coira was weeping inconsolably. Now she had lost both parents. She must have blacked out because the next thing she knew she was back in Dair’s chambers, his arms around her.
All this was too much for her to take in at once. She had always known there was something different about her, but to be different to such an extent that she could travel through time and space was a bit much.
And her dad had been hanging around after her mom died for her. They had always lived for each other. Now she knew why she always felt left out. Everything was beginning to make sense now. Even her meeting with Dair had apparently been planned from the day she was born. She wanted to know Dair’s side of the story, but for now, she needed to sit quietly and mourn the loss of her parents, especially her dad. She had already mourned her mom.
“How are ye feeling, mo muirnín?”
“I feel as if I was hit by a ton of bricks. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. There I was thinking I was a simple, ordinary woman, and it turns out, I’m not even a woman, let alone ordinary.”
“Shhh, darling, of course yer nae ordinary. Ye are every bit a woman.”
“If you say so. Although listen to who’s talking, someone who is more powerful than a Druid.”
“I am not more powerful than a Druid, far from it. My powers are of a different nature, and now that I have found ye, it may all change. I did not seek this power. 'Twas placed on me at a time when I had no say in the matter.”
“Not another mystery. Please leave me alone for now.”
She went into her room and threw herself on the bed. Her heart was heavy. She’d lost her mom and now her dad. She always wondered if they’d really wanted her when she was a child. They were always more into each other, and she was an afterthought. Now it was all beginning to make sense, even the miracle baby bit. She was just an accident, not planned or anything.
Her parents were really not expecting to be able to conceive a child. They had her late in life, which explained why they’d always left her with nannies from as far back as she could remember. Hers had been a very lonely childhood. In the beginning, she thought all children’s lives were that way until, as she got older, she found out this was not the case.
She couldn’t hate her parents. They were who they were. They’d given her a good life, just not their love. Come to think of it, could a Tuath Dé Danann and a fae love the way mortals loved? She couldn’t answer this, but if she possessed even a tiny bit of them in her, then she’d have to say yes. She loved Dair... loved him with every fiber of her being.
Coira remained in her chambers until dinnertime. She got out of bed when Imogene came in to assist her in getting ready for dinner. She was tempted to request a tray bought to her. She decided against it, thinking it childish.
Dair’s people were waiting to welcome him after his victory in the war. She didn’t want him to have to choose between her and his people. So Imogene helped her dress in one of her finer outfits and fixed her hair with tiny colored beads that reflected the light in the wall torches.
She walked into the great hall to find it unusually crowded, a
lmost as crowded as when the Bruce was visiting. She expected the men wanted to celebrate. She had not counted on the Scots’ love for a celebration. They had gone all out. The hall was decorated in the clan colors from floor to beam. She wondered how they’d gotten all the way up there to hang those banners. It gave a festive atmosphere to the place.
Coira took her seat in her usual chair and gave Dair a brief smile. He gave her an answering smile and continued his conversation with Tristan. After dinner was finished, everyone stayed talking about the fighting and commending each other on the small number of losses they’d suffered. Dair didn’t take part in the conversation. She supposed he would have been happier had they not lost one man, but that was not the nature of war.
As she was about to get up from the chair, he was there before her, offering his arm. She placed her hand on his arm, and they walked up to her chambers together.
“Are ye feeling better now, mo muirnín?”
“Yes. It’s not your fault that my parents are different. Also, I love you too much to remain upset with you.”
“This is my exact feeling. I did not want to upset ye. I just want to love ye,” and he proceeded to give her a hungry kiss. She responded just as hungrily. By then they had arrived at the door to her chambers. He picked her up, placed her on the bed, and followed her down. They spent the night reaffirming their love for each other.
It was in the wee hours of the morning when Dair asked her about her pregnancy. “I know ye are carrying my bairn, but ye have not told me when ye found out and how ye feel about it.”
“I found out the day after you left for war. I’ve been waiting to tell you. In the beginning I was sick in the mornings. It went away after a few days. I haven’t felt a thing since. Matter of fact, I’ve never felt better.”
“Good. Are ye feeling better about being my wife?”
“Do you need to ask? I would marry you if you were an immortal spirit.”
“Do not say things like that if ye don’t mean it, Coira. I remember a time when ye fought me tooth and nail. Ye were dead set against marrying me.”